Dunlap, other FSU boosters welcome Fisher

Jimbo Fisher, the head football coach for the Florida State Seminoles, center, talks to Al Dunlap, a booster club donor and supporter of FSU, as Marcus Outzen looks on during the Marion County Seminole Club gathering at the Country Club of Ocala Wednesday.

Published: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 9:11 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 9:11 p.m.

When Florida State head football coach Jimbo Fisher leads his team out to the practice fields for fall drills in Tallahassee, Ocala resident Al Dunlap will be sure to cross his mind.

Facts

QUOTES

On his relationship with the Dunlaps:

“Al and Judy (Dunlap) have been unbelievable to Florida State. … Their generous gifts allow us to progress and push the program ahead. I’ve known him since I came here as an assistant. I just love being around them. Al’s very knowledgeable. Whether you’re a leader of football or in business, it’s a lot of the same philosophies, and you’re able to pick things up from him whenever you talk to him.”

On Bobby Bowden returning to campus for two games this season:

“I’m very excited about it. When I knew Coach Bowden back in the '80s, he even said then that whoever the coach was when he retired, he was going to leave him alone for a while because he didn’t want (the new coach) looking over his shoulder. He said that for 20 years because it happened to him. To come back and get his just do for being the winningest coach in NCAA history and the national championships and what he did for Florida State is great. He’s one of the great gentlemen to ever coached this game. I just really appreciate what Coach Bowden did, and it’s just tremendous that he’s coming back. We’ll be able to give him the true tribute that he deserves.”

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It'll be hard for it not to since Dunlap's name will be posted prominently on the facility. The retired businessman and his wife, Judy, donated $5 million to lead the way for a badly needed indoor practice facility on campus.

“With the Florida weather like it is in August, it'll be good to not have to worry about lightning every day,” Fisher said Wednesday during his annual booster tour stop in town. “And it's a very good recruiting tool. It's going to allow us to really help in player development.

“Al and Judy were the main people who did that, and we can't thank them enough.”

The Dunlaps, who live in Ocala on a farm filled with 70 rescued animals, began donating to Florida State during the 1990s while Bobby Bowden was winning championships. They've recently crossed the $15 million mark in donations – most notably the lead donors for outdoor practice fields, the new indoor practice facility and a 50,000-square-foot student center.

“It's all for the kids,” Al Dunlap said after a round of golf with Fisher at the Country Club of Ocala on Wednesday. “It's really enlightening to meet with the kids at Florida State.”

The Marion County Seminole Club is one of about 20 stops across Florida and Georgia during the spring tour to help deliver the message of the program and raise money. Following the golf outing, which had about 80 entrants, a dinner featuring Fisher and other FSU figures took place in front of more than 200 donors.

Fresh off an ACC championship and an Orange Bowl win, Fisher likes where the Seminoles are headed. While FSU's team sent 11 players into the NFL draft last month and three others after the draft as free agents, Fisher looks at replacing them positively.

“We're very happy for those guys and seeing their dreams come true and their hard work pay off,” Fisher said. “It's great for our program to show that we are becoming a great program again.”

The 'Noles highest draft pick was quarterback E.J. Manuel, who went to Buffalo with the 16th pick. So this fall, Fisher will have to settle on a new quarterback for the first time since he took over the job in 2010. Whether it's redshirt sophomore Jacob Coker or redshirt freshman Jameis Winston, there'll be plenty of help around them.

“We have more junior and senior starters back this year than we had last year,” Fisher said. “Even though we had all those guys drafted, we have a ton of guys who've played. So the quarterback can do their job. When the other guys mess up, then young quarterbacks get exposed.

“So when you get experience around them, it's a lot easier for them to function and be good and allow their talent to play.”

Fisher said the quarterback decision will play out over time.

“You'll know when it's time in those last scrimmages (who the starter should be),” he said. “They'll tell you with their play. You won't have to tell them.”

A couple of players in the secondary from Marion County have also impressed Fisher.

Dunnellon graduate Terrence Brooks will be a third-year starter at safety for the Seminoles, while sophomore P.J. Williams, a Vanguard grad, will see increased playing time.

“P.J. will be playing,” Fisher said. “He can play corner. He can play safety. He can do a lot of things. He's a football player. He had a great spring at corner. And he's just got a great work ethic - him and Terrence Brooks both.”

Williams played in every game last year and had 14 tackles. Brooks started all 14 games at free safety as a junior and was the team's leading tackler in the secondary with 52 stops.

“I think Brooks definitely has a chance to be an NFL player,” Fisher said. “He can run. He can cover. He has great ball skills and can play in space. He does it all.”

<p>When Florida State head football coach Jimbo Fisher leads his team out to the practice fields for fall drills in Tallahassee, Ocala resident Al Dunlap will be sure to cross his mind.</p><p>It'll be hard for it not to since Dunlap's name will be posted prominently on the facility. The retired businessman and his wife, Judy, donated $5 million to lead the way for a badly needed indoor practice facility on campus.</p><p>“With the Florida weather like it is in August, it'll be good to not have to worry about lightning every day,” Fisher said Wednesday during his annual booster tour stop in town. “And it's a very good recruiting tool. It's going to allow us to really help in player development.</p><p>“Al and Judy were the main people who did that, and we can't thank them enough.”</p><p>The Dunlaps, who live in Ocala on a farm filled with 70 rescued animals, began donating to Florida State during the 1990s while Bobby Bowden was winning championships. They've recently crossed the $15 million mark in donations – most notably the lead donors for outdoor practice fields, the new indoor practice facility and a 50,000-square-foot student center.</p><p>“It's all for the kids,” Al Dunlap said after a round of golf with Fisher at the Country Club of Ocala on Wednesday. “It's really enlightening to meet with the kids at Florida State.”</p><p>The Marion County Seminole Club is one of about 20 stops across Florida and Georgia during the spring tour to help deliver the message of the program and raise money. Following the golf outing, which had about 80 entrants, a dinner featuring Fisher and other FSU figures took place in front of more than 200 donors.</p><p>Fresh off an ACC championship and an Orange Bowl win, Fisher likes where the Seminoles are headed. While FSU's team sent 11 players into the NFL draft last month and three others after the draft as free agents, Fisher looks at replacing them positively.</p><p>“We're very happy for those guys and seeing their dreams come true and their hard work pay off,” Fisher said. “It's great for our program to show that we are becoming a great program again.”</p><p>The 'Noles highest draft pick was quarterback E.J. Manuel, who went to Buffalo with the 16th pick. So this fall, Fisher will have to settle on a new quarterback for the first time since he took over the job in 2010. Whether it's redshirt sophomore Jacob Coker or redshirt freshman Jameis Winston, there'll be plenty of help around them.</p><p>“We have more junior and senior starters back this year than we had last year,” Fisher said. “Even though we had all those guys drafted, we have a ton of guys who've played. So the quarterback can do their job. When the other guys mess up, then young quarterbacks get exposed.</p><p>“So when you get experience around them, it's a lot easier for them to function and be good and allow their talent to play.”</p><p>Fisher said the quarterback decision will play out over time.</p><p>“You'll know when it's time in those last scrimmages (who the starter should be),” he said. “They'll tell you with their play. You won't have to tell them.”</p><p>A couple of players in the secondary from Marion County have also impressed Fisher.</p><p>Dunnellon graduate Terrence Brooks will be a third-year starter at safety for the Seminoles, while sophomore P.J. Williams, a Vanguard grad, will see increased playing time.</p><p>“P.J. will be playing,” Fisher said. “He can play corner. He can play safety. He can do a lot of things. He's a football player. He had a great spring at corner. And he's just got a great work ethic - him and Terrence Brooks both.”</p><p>Williams played in every game last year and had 14 tackles. Brooks started all 14 games at free safety as a junior and was the team's leading tackler in the secondary with 52 stops.</p><p>“I think Brooks definitely has a chance to be an NFL player,” Fisher said. “He can run. He can cover. He has great ball skills and can play in space. He does it all.”</p>